Method of and machine for measuring



Dec. 19, 1939. E. c. WHITNEY ET AL 2,184,158

METHOD QF AND MACHINE FOR MEASURING Filed Aug. 24, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet l 1939- c. WHITNEY ET AL 2,134.158

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MEASURING Filed Aug. 24, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 19, 1939.

E. C WHITNEY ET AL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MEASURING Filed Aug. 24, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 .im M n r W O a E M W ii w m m W Q: W 1 r l q 5 a u Y QQN B W 1 me! *2 "we: 3w mm. N

DEC. 19, E, c WHITNEY ET AL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MEASURING Filed Aug 24, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 19, 1939. 5 w ET AL 2,184,158

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MEASURING Filed Aug 24, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 zzez 123 IQTVEN'TOR BY 2Z3, A,

' ATTORNPK Dec. 19, 1939. E. c. WHiTNEY ET AL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MEASURING Filed Aug. 24, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 23 1?0 14,3 M llll 1 START llum STOP II a 163 PPE-SET 4a swans ""q y TOTAL AREA Z 163 mm x WORK CONTROLL ED .SwrrCH E INYENTOfiS BY 5% W ATTORN Dec. 19, 1939- E. c. WHITNEY ET AL ,1

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MEASURING Filed Aug. 24, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 n INVENTORS ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1939. E c wi- AL 2,184,158

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MEASURING Filed Aug. 24, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 168 J66 C I k\ &\\\ "WZJ INVENIORS ATTOR Dec. 19, 1939.

E. c. WHITNEY El AL ,158

METHQD 9F AND MACHINE FUR MEASURING Filed Aug. 24, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 1939- E. c. WHITNEY ET AL 2,134,158

METHDD OF AND MACHINE FOR MEASURING Filed Aug. 24, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet l0 @Eunmnii:

MVENT'ORS My 1939. E. c. WHITNEY ET AL 2,134,153

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MEASURING Filed Aug. 24, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 AMPLJFIE mun N VENTORS Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MEASURING Ernest 0. Whitney,

Billerica, Masa,

Danvers, and John L. Jones, assignors to Stockton Profile Gauge Corporation, Lowell, Mass at corporation of Massachuse 11 Claims.

This invention relates to methods of and machines for measuring quantities such as the areas to measure accurately, or others such as lumber, the measurement of which involves considerable labor. The invention also relates to the measurement of other quantities such as the volumes of solids.

Such methods and apparatus find an important commercial use in measuring the area of hides or leather, but they are also useful for a considerable variety of other purposes. The demand for them in measuring leather arises from the 15 fact that a high proportion of the leather used in industry is bought or sold on an area basis. This applies particularly to the leather used in the manufacture of gloves, shoes, luggage, and various other products. Consequently, machines 20 for performing such measuring operations are widely used in tanneries, shoe factories, and, in general, by the larger producers and users of leather.

Important objections to the present commer- 25 cial machines of this character are their high first cost, their inaccuracy, and the fact that most of them, at least, involve a rather high labor expense in connection with their operation. The present invention is especially concerned with 30 these factors and it aims particularly to overcome the objections just mentioned.

In addition, the invention is directed to the improvement of machines and methods of this general character with a view to enabling these area 35 measurements to be made expeditiously on a wider variety of surfaces and with greater accuracy than has been possible heretofore, so that such methods can be used not only for commercial purposes but also in those scientific investiga- 40 tions in which the results of an experiment, test, or computation involves a plane surface having an irregular outline, the area of which must be determined with a high degree of accuracy, or a solid the volume of which must be determined.

of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine shown in Fig, 1 with some of the parts 01' the machine 55 removed;

ts Application August 24,

1935, Serial No. 37,709 (Cl. 33-123) Fig, 3 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, showing chiefly the mechanism for printing the area measurement on the work;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of another mechanism for performing the same function;

Fig. 5 is an end view of portions of the printing mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig.6 is a diagrammatic, sectional view through the feed rolls and adjacent parts, illustrating a portion of the controlling apparatus for the printing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a sectional line 1-1, Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a. perspective view of the printing mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is an end view of part of the controlling mechanism for the counter or indicator;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the mechanism for printing the area and piece number indications on a record sheet or web;

Fig. 10a is a view of the upper portion of this apparatus illustrating a slightly diflerent arrangement;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the web on which the printing operation is performed and the carbon web cooperating with it;

Fig. 12 is a diagram of certain of the electric circuits;

Fig. 13 is another circuitdiagram;

Fig. 13a. is a perspective view of one of the commutator elements shown in Figs. 12 and 13;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of one o! the counters;

Fig. 15 is a transverse, sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a circuit diagram of the controlling apparatus for the printing mechanisms;

Fig, 17 is a plan view of part of the mechanism for operating the scanning lamp;

Fig. 18 is a side view of parts of said mechanism;

Fig. 18a is a diagrammatic view showing different paths of travel of the scanning beam on the work;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the line lS-IS, Fig. 1'7;

Figs. 20 and 21 mately on the lines Fig. 22 is a plan changing mechanism machine;

Figs. 23 and 24 are side and end views, respectively, of the gear changing mechanism which may be incorporated in the machine Fig. 25 is a view, partly in side elevation and u view approximately on the are sectional views approxi- 29-20 and 2i--2|, Fig. 17:

view of an automatic lamp which may be used in the partly in section,

II it comes into of an electro-magnetic clutch which may be used in the machine instead of the ratchet mechanism shown;

Fig. 26 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative form oi scanning mechanism; and,

Fig. 2'7 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative arrangement for driving the counter.

Since an important commercial use of the invention is in the measurement of leather, tanned skins, and the like, the invention is here disclosed as embodied in machines adapted more especially for this purpose. The machines illustrated are designed to practice a method which may be described briefly as involving the steps of moving a beam of light, or other radiation to which a suitable radiation detector is responsive, across a. known area, in which the surface to be measured is interposed. in such a manner as to scan increments of said area, and detecting and indicating or recording the number of such increments of area which are either covered or uncovered by said surface. The method thus determines the area. of said surface directly or gives information from which such determination can readily be made. v

It will be observed that in this method the area to be measured, or the known area in which the surface to be measured is interposed, may be considered'as divided into a. multitude of increments of area arranged in an orderly fashion convenient for scanning. In the case of the known area above referred to, the scanning operation detects the presence of those increments not covered by the work, and these increments are counted. Since the function of the scanning beam here is to determine whether successive increments are or are not covered, it obviously is not essential that the scanning beam cover the entire area of each increment. Assuming, for example, that these increments of area are represented by the spaces in coordinate paper, the beam may be made equal to the width of a row of these spaces and may sweep across the entire row, but it will perform essentially the same functions it it is considerably smaller than the width of such a row and sweeps across the center line of the row. In either event the beam will successive spaces in the row, and by using a suitable detector with it, it can be made to tell which spaces are covered by the work. The word "scan", therefore, is used herein to include the training of a radiation on a surface for the purposes here described, and the width of the strip whose area is to be determined by the travel of the radiation may be greater than the width of the radiation beam.

Work feeding and scanning mechanism Referring first to Figs. there shown comprises a upper surface on which to support the skin or other material to be measured. Mounted in cooperative relationship to this table are upper and 4, respectively, Fig. l, and a similar pair of rear feed rolls 5 and operable to grip a skin and feed it across the table. All of these rolls are geared together and they may be driven from any suitable source of power.

Between the two sets of feed rolls the table 2 is provided with a long narraw slot I, Fig. 6, extending parallel to the axes ot the rolls and preferably of approximately the same length as the rolls. As the skin passes across this slot the path of the scannin beam of 1 and 2. the machine table 2 having a flat light issuing from an electric lamp 8 which is enclosed in a hood III provided with a suitable light tube. This lamp is mounted on a carriage or slide it arranged to reciprocate horizontally on a stationary track l3, the slide being provided with castors or rolls which grip the track and serve both to guide and support the slide.

For the purpose of imparting the desired reciprocating motion to the slide, a chain M is supported immediately beside it on suitable sprocket wheels i5 and I6 and this chain carries a roll or pin II that projects into a vertical slot III in the slide. Consequently, as the chain revolves, the pin or roll i1 moves the slide or carriage l2 backward and forward on its track. A positive driving connection is provided between the chain and the feed rolls which, in the particular arrangement shown, comprises a bevel gear 20 secured fast on the shait'ef a sprocket wheel l6 and driven by another bevel gear 2|, thelatter being driven through suitable gearing and a vertical shaft 22 from an electric motor 23 which also drives the shaft of the feed roll 8 through worm gearing 22'. A lens l9, Fig. 2, is mounted adiustably on the carriage in line with the light tube to assist in controlling the beam of light.

with this arrangement, therefore, a relatively thin pencil or beam of light is swept across the entire width of the skin from one side thereof to the other simultaneously with the feeding of the skin a known distance through the machine. The rate of movement of the beam and the rate of feed of the skin may be so adjusted that the entire surface of the skin, or closely spaced strips only of said surface, may be scanned, as desired. As the beam travels from one end to the other of the slot I, it will move part of this distance before it strikes the skin, will then cross the' skin, and travel the remainder of its stroke out of contact with the leather, these operations being repeated on the return stroke. It will be evident that since the ratio of the rate of movement of the beam to the rate of feed of the skin is known, then, if the relative time interval during which the beam is on the skin is found, the area of the skin can readily be calculated. 0r, since the beam reciprocates in a path of predetermined length and thus scans a known area-during the feeding of the skin a given distance, then it the relative time that the beam is not intercepted by the skin is measured, the scanned area of the skin can readily be calculated. Either of these time determinations can be made in the machine shown. That is, provision is made in this machine for integrating the relative time intervals during which the beam is on the surface to be measured, or oil it, as desired.

Integrating mechanism For. this purpose a reflector 2, Fig. 6, is mounted inthe machine immediately below the slot 1 where it serves to reflect the scanning beam on to a photo-electric tube, photo-electric cell, or other suitable light sensitive device, all of such devices being hereinafter included in the term "photo-cc This element is indicated at 26, and. as shown in the drawings, it is mounted on the carriage I2, where it travels with the {source of light 8 and thus maintains a constant relationship to it.

the seaming beam intersects the edge of the skin in moving in either direction, it produces an abrupt change in the flow of current in the circuit in which the cell 25 is connected. However, due to the fact that the currents handled by these photo-cells are relatively weak, it is convenient and often necessary to amplify the cell current in order to build it up to a value suitable for operating or controlling a counter or some other type of indicating or recording apparatus. As shown in Fig. 2, the cell circuit includes an amplifier 26, the nature of which necessarily will depend upon the requirements of different types and designs of machines, the nature of the photo-cell used, and other practical considerations.

The output current of this amplifier controls the operation of two counters, indicated at 21 and 28, respectively, Fig. 2, such control being effected through a relay 30 which may consist of an electro-magnetically operated switch for turning current on or off the conductors 3|. These conductors run to brushes which bear on two slip rings 32 and 33, both secured fast on a shaft 34 which is geared to the shaft 35 that carries the lower rear feed roll 4. Also mounted on the shaft 34 is a disk 36, Figs. 2 and 9, carrying a solenoid 31 with which a plunger 38 is operatively associated, the latter being pivoted to the outer end of an arm 40, fast on a rock shaft 4|, to which a pawl 42 also is secured. A spring 43 acts on the arm in a direction tending to hold the pawl 42 in engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 44 which is secured fast on another shaft 45 co-axial with the shaft 34. This arrangement forms, in eflect, a magnetically controlled clutch through which a driving connection may be established between the shafts 34 and 35, when desired, and broken or interrupted whenever necessary. The two counting devices shown conventionally at 21 and 23 may be of any suitable type, the former being designed to give the relative measure or area of a single skin and the latter to give the total indication or area of any desired number of skins, as for example, the total in a batch or order. Secured on the shaft 45 is a brake drum 46, Figs. 2 and 9, arranged to be engaged by some cooperating relatively stationary brake element, such as the brake band 41, Fig. 9, to stop the rotation of the counter shaft 45 immediately upon the movement of the dog 42 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 44.

When this machine is in operation and a skin is being fed through it, with the scanning beam traversing the slot 1, as above described, the action of the light on the photo-cell 25 will cause a current sufficient to actuate the relay 30 to be delivered by the amplifier so long as the scanning beam is not intercepted by the hide or skin. Assuming that the relay 30 holds current on the conductors 3| at this time, the solenoid 31 will be energized, thus holding the pawl 42 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 44. While this condition obtains, therefore, the shaft 45 will remain stationary and neither of the counters will be operated. As soon, however, as the scanning beam strikes the skin, and it therefore is prevented from reaching the photo-cell, the current in the cell circuit will be cut down to a value so small that the relay 30 will open the circuit through the conductors 3!, thus tie-energizing the solenoid 31 and allowing the spring 43 to move the pawl 42 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 44. Thereupon the shaft 45 will begin to rotate with the shaft 34 which, as above stated, is positively connected with the feeding mechanism. so that at this time the counters will be driven in a constant and definite relationship to the rate of the feeding movement of the skin.

It will thus be evident that in this arrangement known increments of area are scanned in relative intervals of time, and consequently, each such time interval represents a definite area. The instrument 2! counts, and thus collects or integrates, the increments of area or the relative time intervals during which the scanning beam is intercepted by the skin being measured; and it may be calibrated to give the result directly. in square feet, or in some other convenient unit of square measure. If, however, the solenoid 31 is made to operate in a manner reverse to that just described, or if the spring 43 and plunger 33 are so connected to the pawl 42 that the spring 43 holds this pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 44 when the solenoid 31 is deenergized, then the counter will integrate the area increments or relative time intervals during which the scanning beam is not intercepted by the skin. By subtracting this result from the known scanned area in which the skin is interposed, or the total relative time required for the beam to traverse said area, the same result will be obtained as before. In either case the counter gives a result which bears a definite relation to the area of the skin being measured, and from that result the area in square feet, or other convenient unit of square measure, can easily be determined. When the subtraction method is used, the boundaries of the scanned area must include the entire skin.

It will be observed that the speed with which the counter will respond to the movement of the beam on or oil the edge of the skin will depend upon the characteristics of the electrical elements, including the photo-cell, the amplifier, and the relays, and also upon such mechanical factors as the spacing of the teeth on the ratchet wheel and the speed at which the disk 36 is driven. The electrical system may be made to operate practically instantaneously, and the time interval required for the pawl 42 to pick up the ratchet wheel may be made extremely short by using a large number of teeth or revolving the disk 36 at a high peripheral speed. A magneticaliy operated friction clutch may be substituted for the positive clutch above described and may be controlled in the same manner as the latter clutch.

The machine above described may be regarded as a typical embodiment of the invention for the specific purpose of measuring the areas of skins, leather, and other materials which can be handled in essentially the same manner. It will be evident, however, that the general organization, as well as the details of construction, of such a machine necessarily will be varied in accordance with the nature of the material to be handled and other requirements of individual uses. In the particular machine shown, the beam of light is reciprocated in a fixed path and the skin is fed forward through this beam at right angles to said path. Such an organization has advantages from the standpoint of machine design, but the important consideration is the relative movement of the beam and the surface under examination, the specific means provided to produce this relative movement being less important and largely determined by the requirements of good engineering and correct machine design. Many other embodiments of the invention, all involving essentially the same principles, may be devised.

Mechanism for printing on the work In addition to measuring the areas of individual hides, it is often desirable to print the area on the respective hides or skins. Also, for the purpose of keeping proper records, it is of advantage to number the hides as they go through the machine. This invention provides a mechanism for performing these operations. To this end a printing indicator or counter 48, Fig. 2, is arranged to be operated by the shaft 85 simultaneously with the operation of the area indicator or counter 21. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the printing counter is carried by a drum 58 secured fast on the end of a shaft 5| which is connected through a single revolution clutch 52 with another shaft carrying a sprocket wheel 58 driven by a chain connection 54, Fig. 1, with the shaft of the upper feed roll 5. Normally the drum 88 is stationary. Both the counters l8 and 21 may be of the same type, similar in construction to the ordinary mileage indicator, the disks being numbered and operated, as above described, so that they will give their indications in square feet and tenths or hundredths of a square foot, or in square meters and decimals thereof. These disks or number elements in the printing indicator or counter 48 are operated by mechanical connections with the shaft 85, such connections including an inclined shaft 55, Figs. 1 and 2, driven from the shaft 44 through mitre gears, and, through a similar connection, driving a hollow shaft 58. The latter shaft is connected through a one-way clutch or ratchet 51, Fig. 3, with another shaft 58 which, in turn, operates through the gear train 58 to drive the disks of the counter 48 in the usual manner. At the completion of the measuring of each skin, but while the skin is still being fed through the machine, the printing cylinder 58 is given a single revolutlon by means that will be hereinafter described, thus causing the raised numbers on the counter 48 to be brought into contact with the surface of an inking roller 6|, Fig. l, and then into engagement with the skin S, the latter being backed up by the idle roll 52 opposite to the printing point.

After having printed the area on the skin, the cylinder 58 continues to revolve until it returns to its initial position where it automatically stops. During the latter part of this rotation, a re-setting gear 82, Figs. 2 and 3, comes into engagement wtih a stationary toothed sector 53, Fig. 1, which resets the counter 48. This mechanism is also utilized to re-set the area indicator or counter 21. For this purpose the re-setting gear is connected through the gear train 88 Fig. 3, with a shaft 65 extending through the hollow shafts 58 and 58 and connected through bevel gears 58 with an inclined shaft 61, Fig. 2, and through additional bevel gears 68 with the resetting shaft I8 of the single area counter 21. The total area counter 28 may be re-set by turnm the crank H. Thus the two counters or indicators 21 and 88 which give the area of each hide are operated simultaneously by the same mechanism and are both re-set automatically at the conclusion of the measuring operation on each individual skin.

During this printing operation an error would be introduced into the indication given by the printing counter 48 due to its rotation around the innermost pinion of the gear train 68 if measures were not taken to avoid this result. For this purpose the ball or roller ratchet 51 is included in the connection between the shafts 58 and 58. This device functions as a ratchet or as a clutch of the overrunning type. The outer or driving member of this device is secured fast on the shaft 88, Fig. 3, while the inner or driven member is secured fast to the shaft 58, the arrangement being such that when the printing cylinder 58 revolves for the purpose of printing the skin and resetting the counter, all of the gears in the train 88 remain stationary on their respective axes, the shaft 58 revolving with the innermost pinion of this train. Normally, however, both shafts 58 and 58 are connected together through the clutch 81 and rotate in unison.

In order to number the hides consecutively for record purposes, another counter, herein referred to as the "piece number counter", is mounted in the printing cylinder 58, as shown in Fig. 5. It may conveniently be of the same construction as either of the area indicators, consisting of a series of disks located side by side, one of these disks being shown in Fig. 5 at 12. All of these disks are mounted on a shaft 13 to which a crank 14 is secured, and the outer end of this crank is connected by a link 15 to an eccentric pin 18 projecting laterally from one side of a pinion TI. The initial setting of this piece number counter 12 may be at the No. 1 so that it will print this number on the first hide on which the first measuring and printing operations are performed. As the pinion 11 engages the re-settlng sector 68 during the revolution of the printing cylinder, it will be given a single revolution by said sector and this movement will be transmitted to the counter 12 to move the latter ahead one unit, the counter thus being set to print the next succeeding number on the next hide.

The operation of the printing mechanism above described is under the control of the hide or skin being measured. For this purpose a spring actuated feeler I8, Figs. 6 and 16, is mounted closely adjacent to the rear feed rolls 5 and 8 and cornprises a shank piece and a bar-like portion I8 lying parallel with and located just behind the bite of said rolls where it engages the skin or other article being measured. The bar 19 extends the entire length of said rolls. In Fig. 16 the mirror 24 and supporting means 2 (Fig. 6) for the skin between rolls'3-4 and 5-6, are omitted for clarity. Normally the feeler is held in a depressed position by its engagement with the skin. As soon, however, as the rearward edge of the skin passes out from between the feed rolls 5 and 6, the feeler is swung in a counterclockwise direction by its actuating spring. It should be remembered that the measuring operation has been completed immediately prior to this time due to the fact that the trailing edge of the skin has moved out of the path of travel of the scanning beam and that, consequently, the area indicating operation has stopped. When the movement of the feeler just described occurs, its lower end strikes the upper end of a lever 88 which, in turn, engages a spring supported contact BI and forces thiselement against two stationary contacts 82, all three of these contacts cooperating to form a switch. This switch controls the operation of an electro-magnet 83. Referrlng to Fig. 16, it will be seen that the two line conductors A and B supply current to the apparatus there shown, the former of these conductors being connected by the conductor a to one terminal of the switch and through it and the conductor a. to the solenoid, while the opposite termlnal of the solenoid is connected through the conductor d to the other side B of the line. The latter line conductor also runs directly to a brush 84 which constantly engages a slip ring 85 on the magnetic clutch assembly 52 that controls the operation of the printing cylinder shaft 5|, as above described and as shown in Fig. 3. This ring is embedded in a cylindrical insulating member 86 which is keyed to the shaft 5| and therefore is normally stationary. A second slip ring 81 is also mounted in this member 86, and a brush 08 bears on it, this brush being connected by the conductor C to the stationary contact 90 of a switch which includes a movable arm 9|, electrically connected to the conductor a. The switch arm 9| is mounted on the same rock shaft with an armature 92, located in cooperative relationship to the electro-magnet 03, so that when the latter is energized by the closing of the switch Ill-B2 it attracts the armature, thus closing the switch 909I. The coil of the electro-magnet in the clutch 52 has its terminals connected to the slip rings 05 and 81 and consequently, as soon as the switch 909I closes, the magnetic clutch 52 is energized, a driving connection between the constantly driven sprocket wheel 53 and the shaft 5I thus is established, and the printing cylinder 50 begins to revolve. The lower end of the feeler I8 quickly passes out of contact with the arm 80 so that the switch BI-82 immediately opens again, thus de-energizing the electro-magnet 83. In the meantime, however, the magnetic clutch 52 has revolved far enough to bring a third brush 03 into engagement with the slip ring 01 and this brush is connected through the conductor A, Fig. 16, contact 94 and switch arm 95 to the line conductor A. Normally the switch 0495 is held closed by a spring 98 so that as soon as the solenoid 83 is de-energized, the latter switch is closed, thus maintaining the magnetic clutch 52 in its operative or power transmitting condition. The printing cylinder 50 therefore continues to revolve until the brush 90 runs oif the end of the slip ring segment 81 and into the gap on the insulating cylinder which separates the ends of the split in this ring. This interrupts the flow of current through the clutch circuits, de-energized the clutch, and stops the motion of the printing cylinder. A spring pressed dog 91, Fig. 3, thereupon drops into a notch in the cylinder and assists in stopping the cylinder and the shaft 5| when these parts have made exactly one complete revolution.

It will thus be observed that the switch 90-0I simply performs the function of initiating the rotation of the printing cylinder but when this function has been performed the switch then is opened, and the necessary current thereafter is supplied to the clutch through the normally closed switch 94-95 and the brushes 93 and 04. When the switch Ill-02 is first closed, however, these brushes, although both alive, cannot complete the clutch circuit due to the fact that the former is not in contact with its slip ring segment.

All of the foregoing operations take place in an extremely brief interval of time. The feeler I8 remains in its elevated position until its upper end is again engaged and depressed by the leading edge or another hide or skin S, at which time it is again swung into. the position shown in Fig. 6. During this movement its lower end engages ihe upper end of the arm 00. which at this time is held against a stop 91 by means of a spring 98, but the tip of this arm has a jackknife engagement with the main body of the arm that permits it to swing in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 6, far enough to clear the feeler, after which this tip is again returned to its normal position by the leaf spring 09. The parts then are in position for a repetition of the operations above described when the measurement of another skin has been completed.

Figs. 4 and 7 show an alternative arrangement for controlling the operation of the printing cylinder 50. Here the magnetic clutch 52 is replaced by a mechanical clutch of the roller type comprising an outer sleeve I00, rotating continuously with the sprocket wheel 53, and an inner cam member IOI peripherally recessed to receive a series of rolls, certain of which are shown at I02. This cam member is keyed to the shaft 5| and has an integral collar portion I03 spaced axially of the shaft from the cam portion of the member. Between these two portions of the member it is grooved to receive a collar I04, arranged to have a limited rotating movement relatively to the parts MI and I03, and this collar carries a retainer or controller I05 for the rolls I02.

Normally when the machine is in operation, the sleeve I00 revolves continuously in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. '7, but the retainer is held in a stationary position by the engagement of its shoulder I00 with the end of a stop lever I01, so that at this time it holds the rolls I02 in an idle position such that they cannot establish a driving connection between the parts I00 and MI. But mechanism under the control of the feeler I8 is provided to swing the stop I01 out of engagement with the shoulder I06 immediately after the completion of the area measuring operation on a hide, and when this occurs a spring I08, the opposite ends of which are connected, respectively, to the parts I03 and I04, immediately rotates the collar I04 far enough to move the rolls I02 forward in their recesses to such a position that they are pinched between the parts I00 and IIII, thus establishing a driving engagement between these two members and initiating the rotation of the printing cylinder 50. Before this cylinder has made a complete revolution, the stop I0I drops back into its normal position, as shown in full lines in Fig. '7, so that at the completion of such revolution the shoulder I06 again strikes the end of this lever, thus causing the retainer I05 to move the rolls I 02 back into their idle positions again and interrupting the driving connection throughthe clutch. The cylinder continues to revolve through a short arc, thus tensioning the spring I00 again and it is brought to rest by the dog 91 engaging a notch I03 in the collar I03 as in the construction illustrated in Fig. 3.

The mechanism for operating the stop lever I01 may conveniently consist of an electro-magnet I I0, Fig. '7, connected into the circuit conductor a, Fig. 16, so that it will be momentarily energized when the switch 0I-02 is closed by the feeler I8, as previously explained. Such energization lifts the lever II 2, Fig. '1, and operates through the link II3 to actuate the bell crank lever of which the member I01 forms one arm.

Permanent record printer In addition to printing the number of the hide and its area on each hide or skin measured, it is also desirable to make a permanent printed record of these items for ofilce uses. For this purpose the area indicator 21 preferably is made with raised figures, similar to those used on type, so

that it can be used in this printing operation. Also, a piece number counter Ill, Figs, 2, and 16, is mounted immediately beside the area indicator 21, and includes disks of the same general type as those in the latter indicator so that the readings given by both indicators can be printed simultaneously on the same web or sheet of paper.

Referring to Fig. 10, it will be seen that the disks of the piece number counter are mounted loosely on the shaft 45 and that the endmost disk has a ratchet wheel I I5 secured to it and provided with ten teeth. Also loosely mounted on said shaft is a hub IIG carrying a spring pressed pawl II! for engaging and actuating the ratchet wheel I I5, this hub also having an arm I II projecting radially from it and provided at its outer end with a roll II! which is arranged to be engaged and actuated by the platen I2II of the printing mechanism. Normally the arm H8 is held upward against a fixed stop by a spring I I8 and the actuating movement imparted to it by the platen I2Il is sufllcient to move the ratchet wheel II5 one tooth. Thus this mechanism can be used to count skins in the same way that they are counted by the piece number indicator l2 previously described.

The printing mechani m is under the control of the work governed feeler 18, Fig. 16. It includes an electro-magnet I2I, Figs. 10 and 16, connected into a circuit controlled by the switch BI-82. When energized it lifts an armature I22 and operates through a pair of links I22 to rock the platen i'rame I24 upwardly, this platen being arranged to swing on the shaft I25 as a fulcrum.

The printing preferably is done on a web I26 0! paper unwound from a supply roll I21 and guided by means of suitable rolls, as shown in Fig. 10, across the surface of the platen I20. A web of carbon paper I 28 unwound from roll I28 is fed with the web I26, both webs having perforated margins, as shown in Fig. 11, to be engaged by pins projecting radially from the feed roll I20. Fig. 10. A lever I3I is pivoted to the lower end or one of the links I23 and carries a spring pressed dog for actuating a ratchet wheel I22, secured to the end of the feed roil I30, by means of which the two webs are fed together step by step through the mechanism, the webs being moved one step at each actuation of the platen I28 and being wound up on rolls I32 and Ill, respectively, by winding mechanism driven through a chain and gear connection I35, Fig. 1, between the feed roll I and the rolls Ill and I".

with this arrangement, therefore, the number of each skin is printed on the web I26 and opposite that number is printed the area of that particular skin. In place of the number, or in addition thereto. the device can be made to print designations such as letters, trade-marks. and the like. Thus a permanent record of the work performed by the machine is produced. More than one record may be made. if desired, by feeding a plurality of webs of paper simultaneously through the printing mechanism and properly associating a carbon with each web.

In addition to utilizing the indicators 21 and Ill for printing the respective skin areas and piece numbers on the web I26, these indicators may also serve to indicate visually the area of each piece and its number by so mounting them in the machine that the numbers giving these indications can readily be seen by the operator. This would be dimcult in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, but both the counter indicators and the platen frame I24 or the printing mechanism can readily be so arranged that this result can be obtained. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 10a. It is like that previously described except that the figures giving the area indication of a single piece or hide are alined with each other at the upper portions of the two indicators 21 and I where they may readily be seen by the machine operator, and the platen frame I24 is so shaped as to bring the platen into contact with this line only of figures. It should also be understood that a totalizing counter could be mounted on the shaft directly at the end of the piece area indicator 21 where it would accumulate the indication given by the latter indicator and would print the total areas of all pieces on the web I26 simultaneously with the printing operation just described. This would simply involve additional counting disks at the end of the latter indicator, but they would not be connected with the re-setting mechanism, and consequently, would not be afl'ected by the re-setting operation.

It may here be pointed out that in some cases, as for example in connection with the measuring of lumber, the printing operation will be performed without ink and will consist, in effect, of stamping or indenting the numerals in the wood. This and equivalent methods of marking the work will hereinafter be included in the term printlng."

Operation The operation of the machine has been so fully explained in connection with the description of its construction, that nothing more than a very brief statement or operation is believed to be necessary. The hide or skin enters the machine between the i'ront feed rolls 3 and 4. It passes across the slot I through which the scanning beam is constantly travelling backward and forward. The scanning operation proceeds in the manner above described and the scanned increments or area are integrated by the counting mechanisms 21 and 48, all of these operations taking place automatically. When the rearward end oi the skin passes out from between the rear feed rolls 5 and 5, the work controlled Ieeler I8 is actuated and initiates both the piece printing and web printing operations. The skin then is discharged from the machine. In the meantime a new skin has been placed on the table and its forward edge has entered between the front feed rolls, the operations above described then being repeated.

Since the operation of the machine may be adversely affected by the presence of stray light, it is preferable to enclose the entire machine, or at least the upper part of it, in a hood or casing such, for example, as that indicated at 49 in Fig. 1. This casing may be provided with windows through which the indicators can be read. The casing is not shown in the other figures illustrating parts of this machine.

In order to avoid the mechanical limitations of such a driving mechanism as that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9 for operating the counter, this mechanism may be replaced by an electro-mag netic clutch controlled and operated in the same manner as the mechanism previously described. Such a clutch construction is shown in Fig. 25. It comprises a drive shaft 251 with a driving disk 258 secured fast on it, the shaft being mounted in ball bearings. A driven shaft 259 is also mounted in ball bearings and is supported coaxially with the shaft 251. It carries a rotor 260. All of this mechanism is mounted within a stationary housing or casing and the rotor is provided with two conical surfaces, one of which is arranged to engage a complemental surface 26I on the housing and normally is held in contact with it by a spiral spring 262. Thus the surface 26I acts as a brake, and since there is no power tending to drive this shaft at this time, the rotor is held stationary. At one end of the casing is an electro-magnet comprising a stationary coil 263 and an armature 264 mounted at the end of said coil and normally held away from it by three coiled springs, one of which is shown at 265. This armature has a loose engagement with a sleeve 30I threaded on to the bushing 382 in which the ball bearings are mounted for supporting the shaft 259. When the coil 263 is energized, it moves the armature 264 toward the right, and this movement produces a corresponding movement toward the right of the bushing 3B2, together with the bearings mounted therein, the shaft 259 and the rotor 26!). Adjusting screws, one of which is shown at 303, serve to limit the extent of this movement, and it is made of such an amplitude that the inclined surface at the right-hand side of the rotor 260 engages the driven disk 258 and establishes a driving connection between these two parts. This condition continues until the coil 253 is de-energized, at which time the spring 262 immediately moves the rotor 260 to the left and into contact with the brake surface 25I, thus stopping almost instantly the rotation of the shaft 259. The coil 263 is connected to the leads 3l-3l, Fig. 2, when this mechanism is used In the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At this time, also, the shaft 251 is connected to or takes the place of the shaft 34 and the shaft 259 is connected thr'ough a spline, or the equivalent, with the shaft 45 so that it drives the latter.

For the purpose of eliminating the momentum of the parts supporting the scanning lamp 8, a difierent scanning arrangement may be used, as illustrated in Fig. 26. Here a series of lamps 8' are arranged to direct their beams through the slit 1, Fig. 6, each lamp being equipped with a light tube and an individual lens I9. Also each lamp has an individual reflecting mirror 24', and the angles of the respective mirrors are made such that they all reflect their beams upon the surface of the same photo-cell 25'. These lamps are lighted in rotation through a revolving commutator 261. A single contact 263, carried by the commutator, engages successively the brushes 210, each brush being connected to one of the lamps 8 so that each lamp is illuminated only during the instant in which its respective brush is engaged by the contact 258. Any desired number of lamps may be used, and their beams may be so controlled that they pass through adjacent or adjoining sections of the slot 1, the result from a scanning standpoint being the equivalent to that produced by the reciprocation of the lamp Bin the manner previously described.

In the arrangement above described a direct current amplifier has been used. It is equally possible to make use of an alternating current amplifier, in which case some provision must be made for interrupting the light beam striking the photo-cell 25. This may be conveniently accomplished in several ways, one being illustrated in Fig. 27, in which the beam reflected on to the photo-cell from the scanning lamp 8 is interrupted by a light chopper 2". Such a chopper may consist simply of a plate revolving on its own axis and at a constant speed. Lenses 212 may be used in conjunction with the light chopper to assist in controlling the beam. The electrical output of the cell is increased or amplifled in the alternating current amplifier 213.

One advantage of using an alternating current amplifier is that it makes it possible to use a synchronous motor of the type designed for clock work to operate the counter 21. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 2'1 in which a selfstarting synchronous motor (of which the Telechrcn clock motor is a good example) is shown at 215, this motor being connected to the amplifier through the output transformer 214. It is assumed that the light chopper 2'" is driven at such a speed as to give the frequency required by this motor. This makes a very convenient and simple drive for the counter. the motor being controlled automatically by the photo-cell.

Safety devices and automatic stop mechanisms A series of safety devices and stop mechanisms are desirable in order to take care of emergency conditions and to prevent the operation of the machine when some part fails to function properly and when, consequently, a wrong indication would be given if some means were not provided to prevent it.

For example, the work may be so fed into the machine, or may be of such a nature, that it will jam and either stop feeding, or will feed at an abnormally slow speed compared with the speed of travel of the scanning beam. In order to prevent damage to the machine under such circumstances. an overload friction clutch I31, Figs. 1 and 2, is included in the driving connections between the motor 23 and the first set of feed rolls. This clutch consists of two disks, suitably lined, and pressed together by a spring I33. If the load transmitted through this clutch exceeds a value predetermined by the pressure exerted by the spring, then the clutch will slip. The clutch is so designed and adjusted that it will cease to drive before damage occurs to any of the mechanisms driven through it.

Preferably, also, an automatic overload circuit breaker I38, Figs, 1, 2 and 12, which may be of any one of the common commercial types, is connected into the supply circuit for the motor 23, so that if a jam or an abnormally slow rate of feed of the work occurs, the added load so placed upon the motor will operate the circuit breaker and shut down the machine automatically.

Fig. 12 shows diagrammatically several additional automatic stop or safety devices. As there illustrated, the supply line for the motor 23 leads through a remote control switch I40, this switch comprising a pivoted arm I4I with a spring I42 acting upon it in a direction tending normally to hold the switch open. Opposing this spring is an electro-magnet I43. the circuit for which is connected across the supply line through a starting switch I44 which may be of the push button type, or any other convenient form. Consequently, in order to start up the motor it is simply necessary to push this button I44, whereupon the switch I will be closed. A spring actuated dog I45 engages the lower end of the switch arm MI and holds the switch closed.

Also associated with this switch is a stop circuit connected directly across the supply line through a stop switch or button I46, and this circuit includes an electro-magnet I41 which, when energized, retracts the dog I45 and thus allows the spring I42 to open the switch I40.

The starting button I must be operated manually, but the stopping circuit may be closed either manually through the operation of the button I45 or automatically by any one of several arrangements presently to be described.

For example, the scanning lamp 8 is connected across the supply circuit through suitable apparatus, and an electro-magnet I is connected in this circuit in operative relationship to a switch I50, in parallel with the stop button I46, and normally held closed by a spring. So long as the lamp remains in operative condition, the switch I50 will be held open, but if the lamp should burn out, the electro-magnet would immediately become de-energized, the switch I50 would close, thus closing the stop circuit and shutting down the entire machine.

Likewise, if the amplifier 25 should fail, the machine should be stopped. As shown in Fig. 12, the output circuit 01' the amplifier supplies current to an electro-magnet I5I cooperating with a spring actuated armature I52 and a stationary contact to conduct current, when the electromagnet is de-energized, through a conductor I54, normally open switch I 53, and an additional conductor I55 to the stop circuit. The switch I53 may be of the push-button type and it is so located that the button is struck by the reciprocating carriage I! of the scanning device at the end of its reciprocating movement as indicated in Fig. 2. In this figure the casing I55 contains the parts I5I--I52, Fig. 12. When the machine is in operation and the photo-electric cell sees light reflected from the lamp 8, the electro-magnet I5I will be energized and will hold the switch I52 open. This condition always obtains at the end of the stroke of the scanning lamp because the beam at this time as passed off the work. Consequently, if the amplifier is working properly, the closing of the switch I53 at the end of the scanning stroke will not close the motor stopping circuit since the circuit through the switch I53 will be open at the switch I52. n the other hand, if the amplifier becomes inoperative, the latter switch will remain closed, and consequently, when the switch I53 is closed the stop circuit will be completed and the machine will be shut down.

In this connection it may be pointed out that it is desirable to use a self-braking motor at 23 so that it will stop quickly whenever the stop circuit is energized.

For some purposes it is desirable to have the machine stopped automatically when a predetermined number of skins have been measured, or the area measured has reached a predetermined total. An arrangement suitable for accomplishing this object is illustrated in Figs. 12, 14 and 15. It comprises a casing I51, which may be the casing of the total area indicator 28, the piece number counter III, or any other counter. Through this casing runs a rod I58, insulated from the casing, and both this rod and the casing itself are electrically connected to the opposite sides 01' the stop circuit, as illustrated in Fig. 12. Normally no current flows through these connections. Fastened to any desired one of the counting disks of the indicator is a split clamp I80, the ends of which are bent outwardly and secured together by a bolt II. This clamp is adjusted on the counter so that the bolt IBI lies directly over the number that will come up under the rod I58 when the desired total is reached. Consequently, when the counter turns up said number the bolt IGI will engage the rod I58, thus completing the circuit through this device, energizing the stop circuit, and shutting down the machine. A similar stop switch designed to operate when a predetermined number of hides has been measured is shown at I59 in Fig. 12.

It is important that both the piece printing area indicator 68 and the corresponding visual indicator 21, which likewise is used in this particular machine in the web printing operation, shall continuously give the same reading or indication. In other words, these two indicators must remain in synchronism. If they fall out of step it means that some error has occurred and that the machine, consequently, should be stopped until that error is corrected. The same is true of the two piece number indicators and printers I2 and I ll. An arrangement which satisfies these requirements is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 12. As there shown, a commutator, of the construction better shown at I53 in Fig. 13a, is secured either on the shaft 45, as in Fig. 13a, or to the lowest number disk on the indicator 21, so that in either event the commutator I63 will be moved simultaneously with the latter disk. Another commutator I53 is similarly secured to the corresponding shaft or disk of the single area indicator and printer 8. As shown somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 13a, three brushes :2. y and z bear on the commutator I83, this element consisting of a cylinder of metal or other conducting material into the periphery of which two insulating segments 1 and g are set, each segment subtending an angle greater than 180. The brush a: bears constantly on the portion of the cylinder between the segments 1 and 9, whereas brushes 3; and 2 eng e either the surface of the cylinder or that of t e segments a and 1, respectively. The connections 01 these elements to each other will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 12. It will also be observed that the conductors connected to the brushes :r--.1: of the two commutators run to the opposite sides of the motor stop circuit so that the two commutators are connected in series and this series assembly is connected in parallel with the stop switch I45. As will be clear from the diagram, the arrangement is such that current can never flow through both commutators so long as they remain in synchronism. If, however, anything happens to make one commutator run slower than the other, or, in other words, if they ever get out of step, then current will immediately flow through both commutators, thus completing the stop circuit and shutting down the motor. The same arrangement of commutators I53 and IBib is used on the piece number counters I2 and Ill, as also shown in Fig. 12.

A similar arrangement is shown in Fig. 13. It difl'ers from that illustrated in Fig. 12 in two respects only; first, the current is conducted to all of the commutators through a pair of slip rings I55 mounted on an insulating collar secured to a shaft of the machine; and second, in this arrangement the three brushes for each commutator are located side by side instead oi being arranged as shown in Fig. 12. The operation is the same in both constructions.

A gong 256 may be connected across the stop circuit where it will be operated whenever said circuit is closed.

It will be understood that the safety devices and automatic stop arrangements above described may or may not be used, as desired, and that whether or not they are used and the particular ones that are used, necessarily will depend upon individual preferences and the requirements of particular situations.

Compensating mechanism for scanner Referring to Fig. 18a it will be evident that if the rectangle L be assumed to represent the area on the work illuminated by the scanning beam at a given instant, and that this rectangle moves in a direction at right angles to the direction of travel of the work, as in the construction above described, the actual path scanned by the beam in making a single stroke will be substantially like that indicated by the cross-hatched band m. The foregoing assumes that while the beam makes one stroke the work is fed a distance equal to the width of the scanned path. It now the beam makes a return stroke it will scan an apparent path designated by the dotted lines m. It is clear that with this arrangement the scanning beam will describe a zigzag Path on the work. At each stroke part or the area previously scanned will be scanned again and part oi the work will not be scanned. For some measuring operations the error so introduced may not be an important factor and can be disregarded, but when greater accuracy is desired some means must be provided to compensate for or to prevent this error.

Referring to the lower part of Fig. 18a it will be seen that ii, with the same conditions as before, the beam starts from the position I and moves in a straight line slightly diagonal to the direction of feed 01' the work to the position I at the opposite side of the work, and the angle of this path is made such that while the beam moves across the work it travels with the direction of feed a distance equal to the travel 0! the work, then the path made by the beam on the work will be at exactly right angles to said direction of feed, as indicated by the shaded area it. If at the end of this scanning stroke the beam is moved in a direction opposite to the direction of feed of the work for a distance equal to the width of the scanned path (into the dotted position 1'') and, starting from this point, the next stroke is made at an angle equal and opposite to that of the first stroke, then the area scanned on the second stroke will be a strip n parallel to the strip 11., of the same width as the latter, and contacting with the latter throughout its length. If these steps are repeated as the machine contlnues in operation, then the entire area of any article of work fed through the path of travel of the beam will be scanned and no part of said area will be scanned twice.

A mechanism designed to produce this result is illustrated in Figs. 17 to 21, inclusive. Here the holder I2" on which the scanning lamp 8, condensing lens I9, and photoelectric cell are supported is itself secured to a slide I85 and depends from the lower side of this slide. The slide is mounted for traversing movement transversely to the direction of reciprocation of the scanning lamp. It rides between two pairs of rolls carried by the respective brackets I86--I68, both of which are secured to a slide or carriage I2 corresponding to the carriage I2 of the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and arranged to be reciprocated in the same manner by a pin I'I' projecting laterally from the chain ll. Carried by and projecting downwardly from this slide is a roll I81 which runs in a groove of a channel bar I88.

As in the construction above described, the

carriage I2 and lamp 8 are reciprocated at right angles to the direction of feeding movement of the work. In the present arrangement, however, the lamp 8 is also given an additional movement parallel to said direction of feed, the resultant of these two movements being a diagonal path of travel controlled by the channel bar I88. This bar is held in such a position as to compel the scanning beam to follow the diagonal path ll', Fig. 18a, during one stroke. At the end of said stroke the channel bar I68 is swung to move the beam against the direction of feed of the work, as explained in connection with said figure, to cause it to make its return stroke in an oppositely inclined path. For this purpose the bar I 88 is pivoted at I18 and a cam follower III is adjustably secured, as shown at I12, Fig. 17, to one end of the slide I88, this follower carrying two rolls I l3-II3 arranged to engage diametrically opposite points on a cam I ll. This cam is mounted on a vertical shaft I15, driven through a spiral gear connection I18 with a horizontal shai't I'll which, in turn, is driven by the chain I8. Said chain is operated through positive connections with the shaft 22, as in the construction previously described. The cam I18 is so timed that it holds the channelbar I88 in the position illustrated in Fig. 17 while the scanning lamp makes one complete stroke. It then shiits said bar into the oppositely inclined position before the lamp starts on its return stroke, holds it in the latter position until such stroke is completed, and then shifts the bar back to its original position again in readiness for a second stroke in the original direction. These operations are repeated during each cycle. Thus the entire area of the skin or other article of work being measured is scanned but no portion 0! the work is scanned twice.

Lamp changer As a further means for ensuring the reliability of the machine, provision may be made for automatically replacing the electric lamp 8 in the event that the lamp burns out. A suitable apparatus for this purpose is illustrated in Fig. 22. It comprises a turn table I88 carrying a series 01'. sockets I8I, I82 and I83, each adapted to receive an electric lamp. One of these lamps, as for example that in the socket I8 I is in scanning position, current being supplied to it through suitable connections with a commutator I 84 to which the other lamps also are connected by brushes I85 and I86 bearing on the commutator and connected with any suitable source of current. A coiled spring I88 acts on the turn table shaft with a constant tendency to revolve the turn table in the direction indicated by the arrow, but normally such rotation is prevented by the engagement 01' a pawl I81 with any one of a series of stops I88. Connected to the pawl is an armature I80 located in the field of an electro-magnet IIII which is included in the circuit of the lamp in working position. Consequently, so long as current flows through the lamp the solenoid IlII remains energized and holds the pawl in its operative position, but if the filament of the lamp should burn out, the solenoid immediately becomes deenergized, whereupon the spring I82 swings the pawl outwardly, thus allowing the turn table to revolve far enough to bring the lamp in the socket I88 into working position. The arrival of the lamp in this location automatically completes the circuit through the solenoid ISI again, thus restoring the pawl I81 to its initial 

